The grand imposture of the (now) Church of Rome manifested in this one article of the new Romane creede, viz: the holy, catholike, and apostolike Romane Church, mother and mistresse of all other churches, without which there is no saluation. Proued to ba a new, false, sacrilegious, scandalous, schismaticall, hereticall, and blasphemous article (respectiuely) and euerie way damnable. The last chapter containeth a determination of the whole question, concerning the separation of Protestants from the present Church of Rome: whereby may be discerned whether side is to be accounted schismaticall, or may more iustly pleade soules saluation. By the B. of Couentrie & Lichfield.

II. That Saint Cyprian and Others were Excommu∣nicated by Pope Stephen. SECT. 5.

IT were friuolous to stand vpon presumptions, when we haue your owne Confessions. You g 1.1 grant that at the same time, when Saint Cyprian did contend with Stephen Bishop of Rome, the same Pope Excommunicated the Easterne Bi∣shops of Cappadocia, Cilicia, and Galatia, for the same cause of Rebaptization. Secondly, that th'aforesaid Pope Stephen h 1.2 did also, as much as lay in him, cast off Cyprian, insomuch that Hee would not admit vnto his speach them that were sent from Cyprian vnto him: Nor this onely, but also commanded them that were of his owne profession not to haue any peace or communion with them, nor yet to allow them so much as house∣roome, or lodging. Yea and Pope Stephen signified by writing, that no Communion was to be held with them that did rebap∣tize. Not to insist vpon the Popes lauish and reproachfull speach, in calling Cyprian a Counterfait Christ, and a deceitfull worker. All which are prooued out of the Epistle of Firmilia∣nus Bishop of Caesara in Cappadocea; which almost in euery point doth manifest the Excommunication of Saint Cyprian.

CHALLENGE.

FOR what better proofe of the Excommunication of Saint Cyprian and other Bishops of his Fraternity, than denying by writing All communion with them, that were of the same Opinion with Cyprian; and after in Act, Forbidding all com∣munion: First, by speach and conference: Secondly, by conuersa∣tion and company: Thirdly, by eating, or hospitality? Each one of these being (according to your i 1.3 owne positiue Conclu∣sions) a proper Character of that which is called The Greater Excommunication; and consequently, in your sense, a Separa∣tion from the Body of the Romane Church.

Notes

• g 1.1

  Baronius, Anno 258. nu. 14. & 15. Ex Epistolis Firmi∣liani, apud Cypria∣num Epist. 75. & ex Eusebio lib. 7. cap. 4. Orientis Episco∣pos ex Cappado∣ciâ, Ciciliâ, Gala∣tiâ omnes in eâ sententiâ persi∣stentes commu∣nione priuabat.
• h 1.2

  Cùm Stepha∣nus Episcopus Romae vrbis Cy∣prianum, quod in ipso erat, repelle∣ret, & Episcopos ad ipsum ex Afri∣câ legatos, nec ad sermonem com∣munis colloquij admitteret, & prae∣ciperet vniuersae fraternitati, — vt venientibus non solùm pax & com∣munio, sed & tectum & hospitium negaretur: insuper & Cyprianum ipsum Pseudo-Christum & dolosum operarium diceret. Haec scribit Firmilianus Episcopus è Cappadociâ ad Cyprianum; cuius Firmiani meminit Eusebius Hist. li. 6. ca. 25. & l. 7. ca. 13· Ad quem Stephanus scripsit, non esse communicandum ijs, qui ad Haere∣ticos transeuntes rebaptizant. Cassander. Consult. Art. 7.
• i 1.3

  Excommunica∣tio maior priuat omnibus contentis sub hoc versiculo [Os, orare, vale, communio, mensa negetur] per Os intelligitur parti∣cipatio colloquij; per cōmunionem, simul conuersari: per mensam, par∣ticipatio come∣dendo Nauarr. Vol. 2 Tom. 3. c. 27. §. Quid operatur.